Second baby dies after being given contaminated fluid via hospital drip

The number of babies taken ill with blood poisoning hits 22 as probe into outbreaks continues

The number of ill babies is now 22. Premature infants are particularly vulnerable to infection

Another infant who was given contaminated fluid intravenously has died.

Health officials from Public Health England (PHE) confirmed the total number of babies who have become sick with septicaemia in England had risen to 22. But this latest death is not thought to be directly linked to a bug in the feed.

PHE and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are continuing to investigate the outbreaks.

PA

St Thomas' Hospital in London where Yousef Al-Kharboush died

Yousef Al-Kharboush became the first baby believed to have died from blood poisoning because of a contaminated feed. He died aged nine days at London’s St Thomas’ Hospital. Premature and seriously sick children are particularly vulnerable to infections.

PHE said it was unable to disclose the identity of the second baby or at which hospital the baby had died “due to patient confidentiality”.

Yousef’s father said last week he did not want more babies to die. Raaid Hassan Sakkijha said his son had suffered but he hoped other children would be saved.

Speaking after a hearing at Southwark Coroner’s Court, Mr Sakkijha said: “My son has died and I hope he will be able to save other children. I hope the other children are getting well.”

PHE incident director, Prof Mike Catchpole, said: “Investigations suggest the source of the Bacillus cereus infection that affected outbreak cases was the contamination of intravenous liquid products during a single day of production, which are no longer in circulation.

"PHE is continuing to work with the MHRA on this investigation, and to ensure all possible lessons from this serious incident are identified.”

Gerald Heddell, the MHRA’s director of inspection, enforcement and standards, said: “Based on the information we have, we believe this is an isolated incident and the appropriate immediate action has been taken at ITH Pharma’s facility to avoid a reoccurrence. Further inspections are being made as part of our ongoing investigation."